George Carlin once said about prostitution, “Why would it be illegal to sell something that is perfectly legal to give away?” Well, George, I can’t really answer that, but I can tell you it’s gotten a lot easier to get around the whole illegal aspect of it all.

If you’ve ever visited the Craigslist Web site to look for a job or a used sofa, you’ve probably noticed the personal ads column. If curiosity has ever gotten the best of you and you’ve ventured into that section you’ve probably found the usual “male looking for female” type ads. If you’re not familiar with Craigslist, check it out. All the listings are free, and all shapes and sizes from all walks of life can be found.

The most popular feature by far on the site is the “casual encounters” section. This is no more than a bulletin board for people to advertise the opportunity for sex. The vast majority of posts are by men and many of them feature pictures of a certain body part in a certain saluted position. “I want to dominate you,” one headline read. It’s accompanied by a close-up glamour shot of something that should be attached to a horse.

Despite your inclinations to sneer at this type of social interaction, think about the financial opportunities to be gained by the women who peruse these ads. There are thousands of men willing to go to great lengths for a little piece. While money is rarely involved in any of the posts, there is nothing to stop someone from listing a price when corresponding in private.

This type of electronic forum is nothing more than a blatant catalyst for prostitution. The Internet has replaced the good ol’ fashioned red light district with an electronic avenue for men to cruise and look for a good time. The only difference is that it’s men flaunting their goods on Broadway, while women go through the daunting selection process. You classy harlots looking to get your palm greased need not to worry though, the money still flows in your favor.

Who’s to stop these business moguls from selling themselves? Law enforcement is practically helpless to single out and locate those who are engaged in online sex solicitation. Many of you will cite the growing number of chat room predators being exposed for this type of conduct. But the roles of predator and prey don’t apply on a public bulletin board for sex. The opportunity to uncover such a person would be limited to random chance.

Now, I don’t want to seem like I’m encouraging or condoning anything that’s illegal or unsafe. I just wanted to emphasize Mr. Carlin’s point that it’s ridiculous to make sex illegal when there is money exchanged for it. Under that logic, it’s the actual exchange of money that’s unlawful. If someone refused to pay a prostitute after having sex, would it then be legal? Whether or not there is payment shouldn’t matter. It’s the unsafe act of having sex with a human sperm toilet that the law should stress, especially in an age of rampant STD’s.

Until this issue is confronted, don’t expect Craigslist to change its free love policy or non-regulatory procedure anytime soon. In the meantime, those who employ the help of the Craigslist skin gallery may get more than they bargain for.

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Josh Huggett can be reached at [email protected]